Be the Millennium Falcon of E-Commerce
Lessons in e-Commerce to be learned from Star Wars
“A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…”
Many of us are huge Star Wars fans, so we thought of having a little fun and pay homage to this iconic film series by sharing what important lessons and parallels translate to the e-Commerce industry. From understanding the Force to destroying the Death Star to using Jedi mind tricks, we translate it to simple e-Commerce insights and tips you can use. Let us guide you, young padawan.
USE THE FORCE
The Force, a metaphysical, spiritual, and omnipotent power in the Star Wars universe, can be viewed in many different aspects. As stated by Obi-Wan Kenobi, “The Force is what gives a Jedi his power. It’s an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us and penetrates us; it binds the galaxy together.” In an e-Commerce sense, the Force is actually integration; it connects all things seamlessly, your webshop to your MS Dynamics Business Central (NAV), your customers’ actions to your business processes, and everything in between. This is why it’s so crucial to have your e-Commerce solution carefully designed to fit your existing business logic and processes. When it’s done properly, like in Nav-to-Net™, your e-Commerce business operates smoothly at all times.
As an e-Commerce retailer, you’re like a Jedi learning to harness the mystical powers of the Force. It can be difficult to understand every component on the technical side. Like the Force with the light side and the dark side, there is good integration and bad integration. Bad integration costs you time, money, and makes things more complicated when they needn’t be. Good integration is complex (not complicated) and makes e-Commerce simpler. Digital Vantage Point can help you stay on the light side of the Force, lending our technical expertise and years of MS Dynamics Business Central (NAV) experience to ensure your integration is best in class. The strong connection between the webshop and MS Dynamics Business Central (NAV) and the real-time synchronization reduces errors and redundancies so you can implement business strategies quickly and confidently.
Read our Integration whitepaper for more information.
LEARN TO USE JEDI MIND TRICKS
“These aren’t the droids you’re looking for…”
Obi-Wan Kenobi used Jedi mind tricks to avoid Imperial entanglements with Stormtroopers. It’s using the Force to influence thoughts, coerce agreement, or cause one to reveal information. It can be a moral issue for Jedi knights but we’re going to use it for the good of your customers in e-Commerce. When we say “Jedi mind tricks”, we really mean that we’re gently suggesting and altering perceptions; this is essentially an extension of your brand management and marketing efforts.
Your e-Commerce website is an important point of contact for customers and partners. Rightly or wrongly so, they make judgments based on how they perceive your shop. Even if they know your brand and company, a poorly designed website or clumsy user experience will negatively color their impression of your company. The design of your webshop depends on the look, feel, and well-written content. Functionality takes into consideration the design but focuses on the user experience and if it’s intuitive and easy to use. With responsive design, your website will dynamically adjust to any device. Adopting a multichannel strategy means that the positive impressions and benefits of your well-designed e-Commerce website are now amplified through responsive design.
You can also use Jedi mind tricks to write persuasive sales copy for your e-Commerce site. The trick is adopting a certain tone that speaks to your customers’ wants (hand wave is optional). Drilling down to that piece of insight or key takeaway will be more convincing to customers than loads of details and text that speak solely about the product or service itself. Here are some tips:
Keep the ideal buyer in mind. Address them directly and personally. Speak to the benefits and advantages they can stand to gain. Get past the generic and what the customer expects. Focus on the “how” instead of the “what”. For example, Nav-to-Net™ as an e-Commerce solution for NAV is safe and secure with seamless integration. However, it’s better to mention that we have features like Always Take Orders™ to take care of your customers, ensuring peace of mind and not lost orders. It’s also easy to say content and inventory management is done all within MS Dynamics Business Central (NAV). It’s better to say that there is no need to change your existing NAV; it’s a perfectly integrated solution that leverages your investment and fits your business logic.
You can easily apply this tip to writing any product description. In certain cases, instead of saying a shoe is comfortable and stylish, it’s better to mention how durable it is, the secure fit, and the cushioning that allows you to be on your feet all day without pain.
Engage the customer’s imagination. This is another little Jedi mind trick that can be simply implemented. The use of the right sensory words can greatly improve your customer’s impression. They help your audience hear, see, taste, feel, and all that good stuff. Which would you rather indulge in?
Delicious chocolate cake with whipped cream and hazelnuts OR
Velvety smooth and moist chocolate cake with a mountain of fluffy vanilla whipped cream topped with crunchy hazelnuts.
Tap into your customers’ minds and engage them with vivid descriptions.
Social Proof. Nothing sways a customer more than reading ratings and reviews. By showing customers that you’re not the only person who thinks you’re great, they’re more inclined to believe you. Gain credibility by including actual quotes from customers or phrases like “fan favorite” or “top seller”. Nav-to-Net™ can provide your customers with that proof with our ratings and reviews feature; customer input goes straight into your Dynamics Business Central (NAV) for moderation, giving you more control, or it can be an automated process, which means less work for you.
DESTROY THE DEATH STAR
The Millennium Falcon is a spaceship that eventually fired the shot that destroyed the Death Star in Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi. It has been through several trips and has endured many modifications and rebuilds to make it more powerful and streamlined. Your e-Commerce business needs to operate like the Millennium Falcon. You need to make changes where necessary to take advantage of new technology. When you get the integration to your BC/NAV right; have an effective balance of form and function in your webshop; and compelling copy that speaks to your customers, you will have the right tools allowing you to steer your business to growth and success.
Find Out More
Let us be part of your epic journey. If you want to see more click here for a 4 Minute Demo video. To learn more about how we can help your e-Commerce business thrive, talk to us or request a demo.